CRAWFORD, Texas  The news from Iraq is mostly bad, and criticism of President Bush from Democrats is relentless. But nearly two-thirds — 63% — of Americans say the war in Iraq was worth fighting, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows. (Related: Full poll results)

That is not to say, however, that they are fully satisfied with the way things are going.

Overall, 54% say the president does not have a clear plan for the postwar effort to bring stability and democracy to the country. The U.S. death toll continues to mount in Iraq.

Americans are basically split over whether more U.S. troops are needed to bolster existing forces or soldiers should start coming home:

• 51% say send more troops or keep the force at current levels.

• 46% say start withdrawing some troops or pull them all out.

Fifty-seven percent say they believe the war in Iraq is part of the overall war on terrorism. Bush has repeatedly made that argument, and the poll suggests his message is getting through.

Bush's handling of the Iraq situation is approved by 57%, down slightly from 60% a month ago; 66% approve of his handling of terrorism in general.

And 59% approve of the job he is doing overall, a range he has maintained for more than a month, regardless of the ups and downs of the news from Iraq. The president's highest job approval this year was 71% in mid-April, shortly after the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in Baghdad.

"Americans are patient. They expected the postwar effort to be difficult, and they are still willing to give the president more latitude and more time. But their patience is not infinite," says Karlyn Bowman, a polling analyst at the American Enterprise Institute.

If the election were held today, the poll shows Bush would defeat an unnamed Democrat, 51%-39%, among registered voters. That's a slight gain from the 48%-40% that was measured in late July. Other polls taken last week showed the race closer. One had the Democrat slightly ahead.

Although the White House might be encouraged about the Iraq and re-election numbers, it could be concerned about Bush's low ratings on domestic affairs. Democrats are expected to make an all-out assault on his handling of concerns at home.

Overall, 52% disapprove of Bush's handling of the economy. He has negative ratings on health care and Medicare, issues that are generally Democratic strengths. And the latest budget deficit projections, which show the shortfall running at record levels, appear to have hurt Bush. The poll shows 55% disapprove of his handling of the deficit, up from 45% in March.

The poll, taken Monday-Tuesday, of 1,009 adults has an error margin of +/-3 percentage points; the margin is +/-4 points on the re-election question.